Structure building game

ABSTRACT

A structure building game includes a stanchion and a number of curved pieces. Each of the pieces has a curved body in the shape of a half circle, and has a slot. During the game, a first one of the pieces is placed on the stanchion by engagement of the slot, then additional curved pieces are added, one at a time, at any location on any previously added one of the curved pieces. The object is to take turns amongst players coupling the pieces together, wherever and however each player desires. If an added piece causes the structure to fail, whereby one or more pieces comes in contact with the base or with the playing surface, then the game is over. To improve gripping, the pieces can include a coating such as rubber, and/or can have surfaces that are roughened, grooved, and/or ribbed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to games, and more specifically buildinggames using a plurality of individual elements to form a structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Building toys are known in the prior art. Such toys include a pluralityof elements, such as building blocks which can either be identical orvaried. Many well known children's toys involve connecting elementstogether to form structures.

However, it is a problem to provide entertainment for two or morechildren using building elements, and competitive games involvingbuilding are less common. It is a problem to provide a construction orbuilding game with relatively simple rules that can be understood bychildren, and having intuitive play which allows for creativity.

It is a further problem to provide a construction game or building gamehaving a plurality of identical building pieces together with a stand orstanchion for supporting the resulting structure. Further, it is aproblem in the art to provide a construction or building game that isinexpensive, easy to manufacture, and easy to store and ship.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

From the foregoing, it is seen that it is a problem in the art toprovide a device meeting the above requirements. According to thepresent invention, a device is provided which meets the aforementionedrequirements and needs in the prior art. Specifically, the deviceaccording to the present invention provides a set of building elementsand a stand or stanchion, having relatively simple rules, allows forcreativity, is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and is easy tostore and ship.

The device of the present invention provides a stanchion and a pluralityof identical building elements which are curved pieces. Each of thebuilding elements (pieces) has a curved body of generally uniformthickness in the shape of a half circle. The curved body has arelatively uniform width and thickness, is relatively thin, and has afirst side edge, a second side edge, a concave surface, a convexsurface, and two free ends. A slot extends into one side edge of thecurved body, the slot having a width greater than the thickness of thecurved body. The slot is not centered, rather it is located nearer oneof the two free ends. The slot extends into the curved body at asubstantially right angle to said first side edge. The slot is areceiving means for binding and gripping the stanchion as well as theother pieces.

During the game, a first one of the curved pieces is placed on thestanchion by engagement of the slot. Additional curved pieces are added,one at a time, at any location on any previously added one of the curvedpieces. The pieces bind by engagement of the slot of one curved piecewith the body of another curved piece with which it is to be connected.By sliding the slot of each piece onto the stanchion or each other, theoff set weight of the piece causes the slot to bind and grip the pieceor stanchion that it is coupled to. In this fashion the pieces can beinterconnected in many and varied ways. As the always unique structureis built, a constant awareness must be kept to the weight shift of eachpiece, or the structure will fail.

The object of the game, named herein as “Curly Cues”, is to take turnsamongst players coupling the pieces together, wherever and however eachplayer desires. If a player adds a piece that ultimately causes thestructure to fail, whereby one or more of the pieces comes in contactwith the base supporting the stanchion or with the playing surface, thenthe game is over.

For example, the torque on connected pieces from the supported weightcan vary depending on the structures being supported. This can be due tochanges in the overall center of gravity of the weight supported at eachconnected location. Torque affects the gripping of the connected piecessince the slot is greater in size than the thickness of the piece it isconnected with. Additionally, slipping or sliding can occur due to thetotal weight supported at a given connected location. This is especiallytrue when that torque may be reduced when the center-of-gravity of thesupported weight is changed by addition of a piece.

Each such curved piece can be composed of material suitable for makingstructures of this type and which is safe for children. Such materialsinclude plastic, wood, metal, composite materials, and coated materials.A coating such as rubber or silicone can be used.

Further, the convex surface and/or the concave surface of each curvedpiece can include a roughened surface and/or a resilient surface toenhance gripping. Moreover, the convex surface and/or the concavesurface of each curved body can include a grooved and/or ribbed surface,to enhance gripping.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be morereadily apparent from the following detailed description when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a structure building game including acontainer with a lid.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an individual curved piece, according tothe invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a base which supports a stanchion,according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an early position of the game pieces asassembled and supported on the stanchion.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an advanced position of the game piecesas compared with FIG. 4, as assembled and supported on the stanchion.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view as viewed from the right of FIG. 5 ofanother advanced position of the game pieces as assembled and supportedon the stanchion.

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of an insert piece, for use with thegame pieces of FIGS. 1-6.

FIG. 8 is a top elevational view of the insert piece of FIG. 7, showinga groove.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a portion of the body of analternative embodiment of the game pieces, showing ridges.

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view of an alternative embodiment showing aportion of a game piece and a covering portion or coating portion, thatcovers or coats the game piece.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The device of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1 is a perspectiveview of a structure building game 100 including a container 10 with alid 20. The container 10 holds a plurality of nested game pieces whichconstitute building elements or pieces 30.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an individual curved piece 30. Each ofthe building elements (pieces) 30 has a curved body 32 of generallyuniform thickness in the shape of a half circle having a diameter B andan angular extent A. The curved body 32 has a relatively uniform width Eand a thickness D, is relatively thin, and has a first side edge visiblein FIG. 2, a second side edge which is not visible in FIG. 2, a concavesurface, a convex surface, and two free ends. A slot 34 extends into oneside edge of the curved body 32, the slot 34 having a width C greaterthan the thickness D of the curved body 32. The slot 34 is not centered,rather it is located nearer one of the two free ends. The slot 34extends into the curved body 32 at a substantially right angle to saidfirst side edge. The slot 34 is a receiving means for binding andgripping a stanchion 42 (shown in FIG. 3) as well as the other pieces30. The following values are merely exemplary and are approximate; andthe present invention is not limited thereto: B equals 2.25 inches, Cequals 0.25 inches, D equals 3/16 inches, E equals 1.25 inches, and theangle A is approximately 30 degrees and preferably can range between 20and 45 degrees. The depth of the slot 34 is preferably about 90% of thefull width E.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a base 40 having a bottom member 48which supports the stanchion 42, according to the invention. A pair upsupport members 44 and 46 support the stanchion 42 upon the bottommember 48.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an early position of the game pieces 30as assembled and supported on the stanchion 42.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an advanced position of the game pieces30 as compared with

FIG. 4, as assembled and supported on the stanchion 42.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view as viewed from the right of FIG. 5, ofanother advanced position of the game pieces 30 as assembled andsupported on the stanchion 42.

The device of the present invention provides the stanchion 42 and aplurality of identical building elements 30 which are referred tohereafter as curved pieces 30.

During the game, a first one of the curved pieces 30 is placed on thestanchion 42 by engagement of the slot 34. Additional curved pieces 30are added, one at a time, at any location on any previously added one ofthe curved pieces 30. The pieces bind by engagement of the slot 34 ofone curved piece 30 with the body 32 of another curved piece 30 withwhich it is to be connected. By sliding the slot 34 of each piece 30onto the stanchion 42 or each other, the off set weight of the piece 30causes the slot 34 to bind and grip the piece 30 or stanchion 42 that itis coupled to. In this fashion the pieces 30 can be interconnected inmany and varied ways. As the always unique structure is built, aconstant awareness must be kept to the weight shift of each piece 30, orthe structure will fail.

The object of the game, named herein as “Curly Cues”, is to take turnsamongst players coupling the pieces 30 together, wherever and howevereach player desires. If a player adds a piece 30 that ultimately causesthe structure to fail, whereby one or more of the pieces 30 comes incontact with the bottom member 48 supporting the stanchion 42 or withthe playing surface which can be a floor or table top (not shown), thenthe game is over.

For example, the torque on connected pieces 30 from the supported weightcan vary depending on the structures being supported. This can be due tochanges in the overall center of gravity of the weight supported at eachconnected location. Torque affects the gripping of the connected pieces30 since the slot is greater in size than the thickness of the piece 30it is connected with. Additionally, slipping or sliding can occur due tothe total weight supported at a given connected location. This isespecially true when that torque may be reduced when thecenter-of-gravity of the supported weight is changed by addition of apiece 30.

Each such curved piece 30 can be composed of material suitable formaking structures of this type and which is safe for children. Suchmaterials include plastic, wood, metal, composite materials, and coatedmaterials. A coating such as rubber or silicone can be used.

Further, the convex surface and/or the concave surface of each curvedpiece can include a roughened surface and/or a resilient surface toenhance gripping. Moreover, the convex surface and/or the concavesurface of each curved body 32 can include a grooved and/or ribbedsurface (such as seen in FIG. 9, discussed below), to enhance gripping.

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of an insert piece 200, for use withthe game pieces 30 of FIGS. 1-6. The insert piece 200 has a U-shapedbody 202 having a left arm portion 206 and a right arm portion 208, aconnecting portion 204, a front surface 212, and a rear surface 214(shown in FIG. 8). There is a groove 210 running along the entireoutside edge of the U-shaped body 202, shown in dashed outline. Thegroove 210 can engage edges of the game pieces 30 that bound the slot34, so as to be secured to the game piece 30 at the region of the slot34, which thereby narrows the slot 34.

FIG. 8 is a top elevational view of the insert piece 200 of FIG. 7,showing the groove 210 in the left arm portion 206 and in the right armportion 208. The portion of the groove 210 that runs along the centralregion (in the connecting portion 204) is shown in dashed outline, andin a side view (not shown) of the insert piece 210 that portion in thewould resemble the groove as shown in the left arm portion 206 and inthe right arm portion 208. The other numerals correspond to thosedescribed with respect to FIG. 7 above.

The insert piece can be composed of any material suitable for use inplay by children, including soft plastic, rubber, semi-rigid plastic,ceramic material, metal, and any other types of material known to anyone having skill in the building toy arts.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a portion of the body of analternative embodiment of the game pieces 32, showing ridges 320. Thisalternative embodiment can also be viewed as having grooves, that is,wherein the grooves are disposed between the ridges 320. The height,thickness, and spacing of the ridges 320 can be changed; and manyvariations of these are possible. All such variations are contemplatedas being within the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view of an alternative embodiment showing aportion of a game piece 32 and a covering portion or coating portion260, that covers or coats the game piece 30. The coating can be composedof plastic, rubber, ceramic material, powdered metal, or any othermaterial suitable for use in play by children, and including any othertypes of material known to any one having skill in the building toyarts. All such variations are contemplated as being within the scope ofthe present invention.

Additionally, it will be understood that other forms of the base 40 canbe provided, and the present invention is not limited thereto. Any suchbase need only have at least one portion that can be connected with thenotch 34 in one of the game pieces 32.

Variations in sizes, colors, thickness, shape, curvature, and the likecan be varied within the range of skill of one having ordinary skill inthe building toy arts, and all such variations are contemplated as beingwithin the scope of the present invention.

The invention being thus described, it will be evident that the same maybe varied in many ways by a routineer in the applicable arts. Suchvariations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit andscope of the invention and all such modifications are intended to beincluded within the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A structure building set, comprising: a base; astanchion supported by said base; and a plurality of curved pieces; eachof said curved pieces having a body which has a thickness and a width;and each one of said curved pieces respectively having a slot therein;said slot having a width larger than said thickness of said body;whereby any one of said plurality of curved pieces can be connected toanother one of said curved pieces using its slot to engage the body ofsaid another one of said curved pieces.
 2. A structure building set asclaimed in claim 1, where each of said curved pieces has a generallyuniform thickness and extends in a shape of a half circle.
 3. Astructure building set as claimed in claim 1, where each of said curvedpieces has a relatively uniform width and thickness, is relatively thin,and includes a first side edge and a second side edge.
 4. A structurebuilding set as claimed in claim 3, where each of said curved pieces hasa concave surface, a convex surface, and two free ends.
 5. A structurebuilding set as claimed in claim 1, where said slot of each respectiveone of said curved pieces is disposed substantially closer to one ofsaid two free ends; and wherein said slot is a receiving means forbinding and gripping said stanchion as well as other ones of saidplurality of curved pieces.
 6. A structure building set as claimed inclaim 1, where each of said curved pieces has a coating of a resilientmaterial to aid in gripping.
 7. A structure building set as claimed inclaim 1, where each of said curved pieces has a coating of a rubbermaterial to aid in gripping.
 8. A structure building set as claimed inclaim 1, further comprising at least one insert member, adapted toengage with said slot in any one of said plurality of curved pieces,said insert member conforming to said slot so as to reduce the openingof said slot, whereby gripping is improved when said notch is engagedwith another one of said plurality of curved pieces.
 9. A structurebuilding game, comprising: a base; a stanchion supported by said base;and a plurality of curved pieces; each of said curved pieces having abody which has a thickness and a width; and each one of said curvedpieces respectively having a slot therein; said slot having a widthlarger than said thickness of said body; whereby any one of saidplurality of curved pieces can be connected to another one of saidcurved pieces using its slot to engage the body of said another one ofsaid curved pieces; and wherein during a game, a first one of saidplurality of curved pieces is placed on said stanchion by engagementwith its said slot, and wherein additional ones of said curved piecesare added, one at a time, at any location on any previously added one ofsaid plurality of curved pieces; and wherein the game ends when a playeradds one of said plurality of pieces that causes at least one of saidplurality of pieces to come into contact with said or with a playingsurface.
 10. A structure building game as claimed in claim 9, where eachof said curved pieces has a generally uniform thickness and extends in ashape of a half circle.
 11. A structure building game as claimed inclaim 9, where each of said curved pieces has a relatively uniform widthand thickness, is relatively thin, and includes a first side edge and asecond side edge.
 12. A structure building game as claimed in claim 11,where each of said curved pieces has a concave surface, a convexsurface, and two free ends.
 13. A structure building game as claimed inclaim 9, where said slot of each respective one of said curved pieces isdisposed substantially closer to one of said two free ends; and whereinsaid slot is a receiving means for binding and gripping said stanchionas well as other ones of said plurality of curved pieces.
 14. Astructure building game as claimed in claim 9, where each of said curvedpieces has a coating of a resilient material to aid in gripping.
 15. Astructure building set as claimed in claim 9, where each of said curvedpieces has a coating of a rubber material to aid in gripping.
 16. Astructure building set as claimed in claim 9, further comprising atleast one insert member, adapted to engage with said slot in any one ofsaid plurality of curved pieces, said insert member conforming to saidslot so as to reduce the opening of said slot, whereby gripping isimproved when said notch is engaged with another one of said pluralityof curved pieces.